Crazy Week.

I have six days to have the house packed up. Ross and the two girls leave a week from today, and I want it done before they leave so that I'll have a couple days to clean everything. Since every story has a bit of humor to it, here's how my week from Hell has been, climaxing with this morning.

The night before last, Aoife threw up BIG TIME around 9:30. It continued every 15 minutes throughout the ENTIRE night. Needless to say, by morning, I was running on fumes. Neither of us had slept. She was miserable and STILL throwing up. I took her in to the doctor at 11. They decided to keep her to watch her for a little more than an hour. (We spent almost 2 1/2 hours at the office, people!) I was to feed her 1 teaspoon of Pedialyte every five to 8 minutes. Claire screamed the whole time out of boredom, and Aoife screamed the whole time due to hunger and feeling miserable. I can't count how many times nurses stuck their heads in the door to check on us. They probably thought I was breaking my children's fingers, one at a time. I wanted to scream and cry, too.

The doctor decided to let us go home for a little break. She said it was because we lived so close, but I'm thinking it's because we were giving her a headache. Aoife was so exhausted, I just put her down. Claire did her usual thing while I attempted to clean and pack a little more. And eat. Lately I've been so occupied, I forget to eat.

I was on a roll cleaning the girl's room. (See earlier posts about Claire protesting naps for pictures, and you'll understand what a project it really is.)  I checked the clock and realized Aoife had been sleeping for over three hours! It usually isn't like her, so I went to check on her. Sometimes when she takes long naps, I automatically assume she has died. Much to my heart's relief, she wasn't dead. But there were a couple different puddles of vomit. I hadn't fed her since we'd been in the office, so she hadn't kept those 6 teaspoons of fluid down.

I called the doctor again, and she immediately sent us to have her blood drawn. A sweet friend took Claire for me, and even picked up Ross from work. (Thank you Jenna! I was a frantic mess yesterday!) When I took Aoife in, the nurses had a REALLY hard time finding a vein. I mean, one arm was impossible, and the other they had to wrap the elastic around her little arm extra tight. I had to pin her down when they put the needle in, but they still couldn't find a vein! They dug around with the needle for a while until they finally hit one. Her blood came out so slowly, like molasses or jelly, I was surprised they got enough to test. I felt so bad for the poor girl.

We had to wait FOREVER for the results to come back. The nurses and doctor even called down to the lab multiple times to tell them to hurry up. Aoife couldn't stay awake at this point, and I thought for sure they'd admit her. We were the last people in the office, aside for a couple nurses, and her two doctors. When the results came, her two doctors debated for a while. Dr. Later was going to Mt. Timp hospital for a few hours. They would have admitted her at that hospital so that he in particular could watch over Aoife, but her insurance didn't cover that hospital. Instead, Sue-Ann, her other doctor, gave me her cell phone number. I was to watch Aoife for the next few hours. If she were to get sick again, I'd give her doctor a call, and Aoife would be admitted to Utah Valley.

Luckily last night went smoothly and Aoife slept soundly, without getting sick. This morning even went well, too. I was supposed to only feed her a tiny bit of Pedialyte, but I could tell Aoife was well past hungry. I gave her a full bottle of it instead, and she has kept it down so far!

This morning I drove Ross to work. Our gas gauge was low, but the light hadn't come on yet. I had planned on getting gas on the way home, after dropping Ross off. There's a gas station right on the way home, but it's usually more expensive than one down the street. I drove past that station, turned to go down the street to the other station, and... put put put. I managed to pull to the side of the road, before the car refused to go any further. Right in front of my beloved Sonic. (It was a sign. I wasn't going to get one today.) I pulled out the stroller, loaded the girls, and walked to the station I had passed just mere minutes before.

They didn't have a canister I could borrow, so we trudged to the store to buy one. Then back to the station to fill it. Then back to the car. I've never run out of gas before. Ever. I've never even had to fill a lawn mower with gas. And the canister I bought didn't have the spout on the end. It was one that you kind of had to build the spout. I spent forever on the side of the road trying to figure out the stupid thing.

A gentleman quickly pulled up behind me and asked if I needed him help. Gratefully, I handed the spout over. He couldn't figure it out either and left as quickly as he came. At least he unscrewed the thing before he drove off! I decided to just try to get SOMETHING in the tank, so I could drive the 100 yards to the station and fill up. I ended up soaked in gasoline on the side of the road, just PRAYING that no one would drive past and throw a lit cigarette out the window. Otherwise, I'd light up the block like the 4th of July!

I managed to get something in there, and was able to fill up. Then I pulled into Sonic claiming that I needed a LARGE Diet Coke.

How many idiots does it take to fill a gas tank? Well, just one. And the gentleman who tired quickly. But I have officially joined the 'Lovelands who run out of gas club".

This week has been hysterical. It's funny how all of the chaos decided to wait until the final days of moving prep. Bring it on world. I have a sonic across the street and a sense of humor the size of Texas.

Peter Pan.

I believe in Peter Pan. I love Peter Pan, and I'm fairly certain that book will forever be one of my favorites. I started reading it again a few days ago. And I think I'll cry every time I read the first paragraph.

"All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked a flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, 'Oh, why can't you remain like this for ever!' This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end."

Claire is two. And is growing up. Aoife only has 15 months before she, too, will know that she must grow up.

Before Aoife was born, I had a very real concern. I constantly worried and wondered whether I would love this new baby as much as I loved Claire. (It sounds silly, but it was a constant worry.) It's difficult to explain a mother's love if someone hasn't experienced it. The second she was born, that silly worry disappeared. As she's grown and become a deeper, more important part of her family, I've fallen more and more in love with her.

Lately my favorite parts of my day have been putting her down from naps, or whisking her away to change a diaper. Not that I enjoy changing diapers, but the few minutes that I get to hold her close are what make the soiled diapers worth it. I've been squeezing my babies a little tighter, and lingering a little longer after I've laid them in their beds. I've even taken to singing them old choir songs. One laughs and stares at me with a gummy grin, while the other laughs even louder and asks for more.

I know I'm usually pretty cynical and joke about wanting to put my children in the dumpster on tough days, but I really do love them. Time has gone by so quickly, and I do wish they could stay little and young forever. Which brings me back to Peter Pan. I love the story of Peter Pan so much, I've planned out the nursery for number 3. (Whenever that happens. No, I'm not pregnant. I'm running a marathon in April, remember?)

This will be the bed room light. A pirate ship chandelier.

The rug, which will be in the center of the nursery.

The toy box.

Framed wall art.

More Framed Wall Art

The Nightlight

The silhouettes, but in black.

Pirate Wallpaper Trim, but I'd want it at the top of the wall as a boarder, rather than down the middle.

And one of these beauts on the wall, too.

And a crib set this wooden tone.

The crib wouldn't be complete without the mobile.

While I'm sure there is Peter Pan bedding out there, I've made the bedding for both Claire and Aoife. I feel like it's something special I can do for them, and I've loved making their quilts. So I'd do the same, with browns, and greens. Obviously I'm planning on #3 to be a boy. Again, I'm not pregnant, but I really do need to find a hobby. There's got to be something more productive for me to do than planning out our nonexistant child's nursery.

Last Day Of Classes

Today is Ross' last day of classes in his undergraduate career. I am so excited for him! A couple of his classes are having a potluck. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate! I am so proud of how hard he has worked these last few years. Since marrying me, he has taken on a job, always a large class load, two kiddos with diaper needs and mouths to feed, and all sort of challenges along the way. Earlier in the year, he had (I think 16 credits) was working 20 hours a week, and an internship which took up at least 20 hours of his week. Over the summer, he worked full time, and still had the internship, which was unpaid.

I know I couldn't have handled everything half as well as he has, and I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished. He's done so well, he doesn't even have to take the final for a couple of his classes. Thank you, BYU, and Provo for a wonderful experience!

We were so grateful when he got the job offer from Epic, even before graduation. BYU has been such a blessing. I know many families are struggling to find jobs after graduating, and we feel so blessed to have this opportunity. I never thought I'd be sad to leave Provo, Utah, but shockingly, I am. I haven't finished my education, and I've come to realize what a blessing just the opportunity to get a higher education is. I'm so grateful Ross has had this opportunity to go to school and have a family. I couldn't be more proud of that man. I sure love you, Ross. Even when we play games together and I lose.

We are looking forward to a long wonderful Christmas vacation playing with our families and for the next chapter in our lives!

St. Nicholas Day 2012

I truly have the best family, ever. Today is St. Nicholas Day. Last night we left out our shoes, so St. Nicholas could come fill them with goodies. I knew Ross had been beyond busy with school, and I wanted to surprise him. I got to play St. Nicholas and pick out little presents and goodies for everyone, but I let Ross help me fill the shoes last night.

We went to bed pretty late, and right as we were falling asleep we heard a loud long sloshing sound. The first time it happened, I attributed it to the water softener going through its cleaning cycle, but when it happened again, I realized a child was throwing up.

We rushed Aoife into the tub, threw her bedding in the wash, and Ross even set up a mini bed for her and I on our floor. She was throwing up so often, I wanted to sleep close to her, so I could help her when things started happening. We took our mattress topper and set it next to our bed, layered it with towels, sheets, and blankets, and Aoife snuggled up for the night.

She ended up getting sick every 15-30 minutes. The poor girl was so exhausted, she was almost falling asleep in the middle of throwing up. We didn't sleep much, and I spent much of the night cleaning vomit, and cuddling and consoling poor Aoife.

We forgot to shut the girls' room door all the way when we first got Aoife. A little after 6, Claire came in with a chocolate beard and a fist full of candy asking for help. I was a little disappointed that she had discovered that St. Nicholas had in fact come, and that we didn't get to experience that with her, but she was so funny, it didn't really matter. After too many failed attempts to have her lie down and sleep a little longer, we came out front to the aftermath of Claire's St. Nicholas discovery. Our shoes, presents, and treats were scattered throughout the room, with a few candy wrappers here and there. She really does crack me up.

While Claire can always cheer Aoife up, Aoife was still just as sick as before and I decided to go out for some pedialyte. I opened the door and found that St. Nicholas had left us even more presents on our doorstep! Not only that, but the car was FILLED with MORE treats.

It was a wonderful surprise! I'm really going to miss having family nearby, especially when fun traditions roll around.

The after hours pediatric nurse was so quick to get back to me. I've been giving Aoife 1/4 t of Pedialyte every 15 minutes and will continue to do so for the next 4-6 hours, and she'll be going to the Dr. in about an hour. They're worried her stomach is having spasms, if that is the case, they might keep her for treatments.

If someone knows of a cloning machine ready for human trials, I'll gladly volunteer. I need one of me to pack, another to clean, one to clean vomit, another to cuddle and console the miserable Aoife, one to entertain and care for Claire, and yet another to go to the doctor for me, as I am sick, too! Oh, and another to keep my Sonic cup refilled. That would be wonderful.

Happy St. Nicholas Day! We will be spending it making a dent in our candy stash and watching Disney movies.